imprisonment

USAGE SUMMARY

"imprisonment" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when referring to a person's confinement as a punishment or to describe a situation where someone is held captive. For example: "The judge sentenced the criminal to five years of imprisonment for their crime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Political competition is nonexistent, much of the opposition has been driven abroad or imprisoned, the internet and media are heavily censored and reports of arbitrary imprisonment and torture are frequent.

The Guardian

That is why I have sought, until now, to fight my imprisonment quietly from within, to make the authorities understand that this is all a terrible mistake, that I've been caught in the middle of a political struggle that is not my own.

The Guardian

The remaining seven were sentenced to life imprisonment.

The Guardian

Redactions marked in the text were made by the US government when Mohamedou Ould Slahi's diary was cleared for public release Listen to live and recorded readings by Brian Eno, Colin Firth and others, as well as a panel discussion with Slahi's lawyer and brother about this remarkable account of imprisonment.

The Guardian

" The judge told Wright he was required by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 to determine whether life imprisonment, the only sentence for murder, should mean life or whether he should fix a minimum term.

The Guardian

The US infamously has the world's highest imprisonment rates – but for once, it would make sense to follow an American lead on penal policies.

The Guardian - Opinion

Anstey says that despite the toll the imprisonment of his staff has taken on the network, Al Jazeera will not change its editorial approach or retreat from covering the hot spots.

The Guardian

Palestinians generally view them as heroes, regardless of the reason for their imprisonment.

The Guardian

His parents, Jurius and Lois Greste, who took part in the press conference via video link from their home in Australia, said they realised his decision to do so was potentially dangerous, but thought it important to publicise his imprisonment.

The Guardian

If the home secretary could base her argument for denouncing the human rights convention on the strength of the Abu Qatada case — which Theresa May won — you'd expect Chris Grayling to argue even more strongly for pulling out of Strasbourg over the issue of life imprisonment for brutal murderers, an iconic issue on which the justice secretary has decisively lost.

The Guardian

It seems sinister that there was an attempt to dislodge the lawful process in these cases and substitute blanket imprisonment.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal matters, consider using "incarceration" instead of "imprisonment" for a more formal and precise tone.

Common error

Avoid using "imprisonment" metaphorically when describing emotional states or abstract situations. Instead, use terms like "restriction", "limitation", or "confinement" to maintain clarity and avoid misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "imprisonment" is as a noun, representing the state or condition of being imprisoned. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct word to use. Examples show its usage in contexts describing legal sentences and periods of confinement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "imprisonment" is a grammatically sound and commonly used noun referring to the state of being confined, typically as a punishment. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a correct and usable term. It frequently appears in news and media, often in discussions about crime, justice, and human rights. While synonyms like "incarceration" and "detention" exist, "imprisonment" offers a general term appropriate for many contexts. Remember to reserve metaphorical usage carefully to avoid ambiguity. The examples Ludwig provides underscore this word's prevalence in formal and journalistic settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incarceration

A more formal synonym for "imprisonment", often used in legal or official contexts.

confinement

Focuses on the act of restricting someone to a space, whether it is a prison or not.

detention

Implies a temporary holding, often used in the context of law enforcement or immigration.

captivity

Suggests a state of being held against one's will, not necessarily in a formal prison setting.

custody

Emphasizes the legal control and responsibility for a person's care and supervision.

internment

Refers to the confinement of a group of people, often during wartime or political unrest.

immurement

Implies being walled in or enclosed, often with a sense of entombment or isolation.

house arrest

Confinement to one's own residence, typically as a condition of bail or a sentence.

being held

A more general term that covers various forms of involuntary confinement.

penal servitude

A historical term referring to imprisonment with hard labor as a form of punishment.

FAQs

How is "imprisonment" typically used in a sentence?

"Imprisonment" is used to describe the state of being confined in a prison or similar institution, often as a punishment for a crime. For example: "He was sentenced to five years of "imprisonment"".

What are some synonyms for "imprisonment"?

Synonyms for "imprisonment" include "incarceration", "confinement", "detention", and "captivity". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "imprisonment" and "detention"?

"Imprisonment" generally refers to a longer-term confinement as a result of a legal sentence. "Detention" often implies a shorter, potentially temporary holding, such as during an investigation or while awaiting trial.

Is it correct to use "imprisonment" to describe emotional or mental states?

While "imprisonment" primarily describes physical confinement, it can be used metaphorically to describe feeling trapped or restricted in other ways. However, be mindful of the context and consider using more precise terms like "emotional confinement" or "mental restriction" for greater clarity.